Vet nurses share top award
"Vet nurses celebrate graduation from SRUC Barony"
A fisherman and a qualified pharmacy dispensing assistant were among the 34 students graduating with an HND in Veterinary Nursing from Scotland’s Rural College.
Alan Linton, who worked on his family’s fishing boat in Fife for many years after gaining a Psychology degree, graduated with distinction from SRUC’s Barony campus.
He was named as best student of the year alongside Shona Jack, from Shetland, who had previously attained an Honours degree in Biology and a Masters in Behavioural Ecology, as well as a qualification as a pharmacy dispensing assistant.
The ceremony was held in the Crichton Memorial Church, Dumfries, on Friday 1 November.
Alan, who is working at Albavet Veterinary Hospital in Kirkcaldy, Fife, said: “I had known that I wanted to work with animals for a while and when I heard about the vet nursing course, I knew that it was something that I wanted to pursue.
“I was a bit apprehensive about going back to studying having been out of education for several years, but I found the adjustment from employment to the course far easier than I was anticipating.”
Shona, who has returned to work at her training practice Shetland Vets, said: “Graduating as a vet nurse makes me feel very proud to be in a career that I feel passionate about. I hope to continue to learn advanced nursing skills in my employment and to make a difference to the patients in my care.”
After receiving their certificates, the new graduates made their professional declaration before Dr Niall Connell, President of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons.
In his address to the graduands, Professor Wayne Powell, Principal and Chief Executive of SRUC, said: “You are a particularly high-achieving class and will be a true asset to the veterinary nursing profession, so I am delighted that many of you have already been offered employment in your training practices.”
"Alan Linton and Shona Jack are named top Veterinary Nursing students"
Posted by SRUC on 07/11/2019
